Episode 215 - Bone Health After Cancer & Menopause: What Every Survivor Needs to Know

In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsey Lester, a British Menopause Society-accredited specialist and breast cancer survivor, for an essential conversation on bone health after cancer and menopause.Bone health is one of the most common — and least talked about — long-term effects of cancer treatment. Whether your menopause was triggered suddenly by treatment or has developed over time, the impact on your bones can be significant.We explore how treatments such as chemotherapy, endocrine therapies (including tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors), steroids, and treatment-induced menopause can all affect bone density — across different types of cancer, not just breast cancer.We also talk about who may be most at risk, how quickly bone density can change, and why bone loss is often called a “silent” condition — with many people not realising until much later.A key part of this conversation is understanding DEXA scans — when to have one, how often to monitor your bone health, and what it really means if you’re told you have osteopenia or osteoporosis.But most importantly, this episode is about what you can do.From nutrition and movement to medications and monitoring, Lindsey shares clear, practical ways to protect your bones — and answers one of the biggest questions so many people have after cancer:Can we improve our bone health without HRT?This episode will help you feel more informed, more in control, and better equipped to make decisions about your long-term health.Episode Highlights:00:00 Intro06:09 Participant introductions and background questions09:00 Discussing osteoporosis awareness plan13:03 Postmenopausal bone health risks15:16 Discussing bone health awareness20:08 Young people unaware of health risks22:49 Discussing tamoxifen and ovarian function28:51 Experiencing medical and surgical menopause31:37 Calcium and vitamin D for bone health39:52 Tracking calcium on a vegan diet44:54 Discussing exercise for bone health49:30 Cholesterol management with exercise51:47 Benefits of building muscleHere are some links we mentioned:https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bone-health/nutrition-for-bones/calcium/calcium-rich-food-chooser/https://strwebstgmedia.blob.core.windows.net/media/0lhowmrk/about-exercise-fact-sheet-february-2019.pdfYou can find Lindsey here: https://healthinmenopause.co.uk/meet-the-team/Connect with us:For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancerFind us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?...Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBbJoin our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub Mentioned in this episode:Substack: https://danibinnington.substack.com/